Thought this would help some of you out, cant take all the credit for it though some thanks goes to weedfarmer for the pics.
Cannabis Indica And Sativa
The Differences between Indica and Sativa Cannabis plants:
Fat Leaves and Short Bush = INDICA
Courtesy of Fuguerider
Indica....higher CBD than THC equals heavier, sleepy type of high. Yield is usually higher than Sativa, and shorter growing season. Better for indoor growing, because they don't get as tall
Thin Leaves and Tall Bush = SATIVA
Courtesy of Fuguerider
Sativa....higher THC than CBD equals cerebral, soaring type of high, more energetic Yield is usually lower than Indica, but is very potent. eg: Thai Sativa grow taller and have a longer flowering period, so they are better suited for outdoors.Sativa's typically take longer to germinate and flower, and they grow more gangly then indica breeds.
More info on Indica/Sativa identification:
Sativas are just about the opposite of Indicas. They are tall, thin plants, with much narrower leaves and grow a lighter green in color. They grow very quickly and can reach heights of 20 feet in a single season. They originally come from Colombia, Mexico, Thailand and Southeast Asia. Once flowering has begun, they can take anywhere from 10 to 16 weeks to fully mature. Flavors range from earthy to sweet and fruity. Sativa's higher THC than CBD equals cerebral, soaring type of high, more energetic which can stimulate brain activity and may produce hallucinations.
Sativa plants are taller, take longer to mature, have less chlorophyll and more accessory pigments (accessory pigments protect the plant from excessive sunlight). As Sativa strains have less chlorophyll than Indica they take longer to grow, mature, and require more light.
Sativa typically takes longer to germinate and flower also, and grows more gangly then Indica breeds.
Yield is usually lower than Indica, but is very potent. Thai Sativa grows taller and has a longer flowering period, so they are better suited for outdoors.
Indicas originally come from the hash producing countries of the world like Afghanistan, Morocco, and Tibet. They are short dense plants, with broad leaves and often grow a darker green. After flowering starts they will be mature in 6 to 8 weeks. The buds will be thick and dense, with flavors and aromas ranging from pungent skunk to sweet and fruity. The smoke from an Indica is generally a body type stone, relaxing and laid back. Indica's higher CBD than THC equals a much heavier, sleepy type of high. Indica plants have a heavy, stony high that is relaxing and can help different medical problems.
Indica yield is usually higher than Sativa, and shorter growing season. Better for indoor growing, because they don't get as tall.
Indica plants are short, bushy, mature early, have more chlorophyll and less accessory pigments (accessory pigments protect the plant from excessive sunlight). As Indica strains have more chlorophyll than sativa they grow and mature faster.
Combining different indicas, different sativas or a combination thereof creates hybrids. The resulting hybrid strains will grow, mature and smoke in relationship to the indica/sativa percentages they end up containing.
So what is Cannabis Ruderalis?
Cannabis Ruderalis is a subspecies of Cannabis Sativa. The term was originally used in the former Soviet Union to describe the varieties of hemp that had escaped cultivation and adapted to the surrounding region.
Similar Ruderalis populations can be found in most of the areas where hemp cultivation was once prevalent. The most notable region in North America is the midwest, though populations occur sporadically throughout the United States and Canada. Without the human hand aiding in selection, these plants have lost many of the traits they were originally selected for, and have acclimatized to their locale.
Though they contain little THC, these plants hold large potential for use in breeding, both in hemp and marijuana applications. Early flowering and resistance to locally significant insect and disease pressures are but a few of the important traits present in these feral populations.
Thankfully, despite years of US government sponsored eradication programs, these wild plants still remain in bountiful abundance
Buyer beware Though,
There are still many commercially offered Ruderalis hybrid strains that are very low quality and should barely be classed as drug varieties. At the same time, the finest Canadian outdoor pot to have crossed my path so far was from Mighty Mite derived lines that were harvested in July and August.
The future seems clear for Ruderalis/marijuana hybrids. As many governments ease up on antiquated cannabis laws, more and more people will take up growing. A couple of auto-flowers on the back deck will likely fit the lifestyle of many more folks than would an indoor grow room.
Demand for stabilized, auto-flowering hybrids of high drug value, in combination with saner drug laws, will pressure marijuana breeders to move forward on bringing these to fruition.
Until then, the ability to have marijuana crops maturing at any time of the growing season should wreak havoc on CAMP style police tactics that have been accustomed to only searching for plants one or two months of the year. This, if for no other reason, seems ample enough to plant some auto-flowerers today!
And for those wondering about Afghnaica
The once basic gene pool of Cannabis began with Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Afghanica (originating in Afghanistan and Pakistan), more commonly known as Cannabis Sativa Var. Indica. The lesser bred C. Sativa var. Kafiristanica (modern day 'Diesel'), originating in India, has considerably low levels of CBD but high levels of both CBN and THC. Cannabis Ruderalis shows the lowest (~.09%) levels of THC and is rarely bred for uses other than hemp fiber and oil production. C. Sativa’s traditionally high-levels of THC as compared to natural levels of CBD contrast C. Afghanica’s higher CBD content.The contents of Cannabis traditionally used vary by region, though modern use mainly relies on Sensimilla, the process in which female plants are sequestered from male pollination, thus avoiding seed pods and maximizing resin and flower production (therefore THC production). When C. Afghanica and variations of C. Sativa are bred, phenotypes occur, producing favorable anomalies such as aesthetically pleasing scent and color mutations, shortened growth periods, and most desirable, controlled (high) levels of THC and CBD. From these phenotypes are bred colloquial ‘strains’, selectively reproduced for desired traits.
By:
triptonic
